62 ARDENMOHR. 



some deep trenches and peat-holes, three and a half 

 couple of teal and a snipe were added to the bag ; 

 Fred shooting well for a youngster. 



We now got round the corner of the reeds, and as 

 Archie was pointing out a swampy place a little way 

 off as being likely for ducks, he suddenly exclaimed, 

 "Lord, there's the falcon!" and sure enough one of 

 these beautiful and now rare birds, the peregrine 

 falcon, was slowly cruising over the swamps ; but, on 

 seeing us, she wheeled round with a graceful swing, 

 and flew straight away to the hill." 



"I suspect, Archie," I said, " that if there be 

 ducks there, they should sit close enough for a 

 while." 



" 'Deed, sir, they will ; there may be nae getting 

 them out of the reeds." 



Certainly the sight of this arch-enemy of the duck- 

 tribe appeared to have had a decided effect. There 

 were seven mire ducks and five teal in that weedy 

 bog ; and we got nearly all the ducks and two of the 

 teal, as they would hardly rise, the retriever having 

 more than the guns. 



Some snipe, a plover, and two hares were shot on 

 our way to the boathouse. Altogether, a very lively 

 episode in a day's fishing. 



